how can iphone automatically switch to strongest wifi signal at home

Hi - I know this is an old post, but I have a very similar issue regarding switching between wifi connections and have a specific question.

Background - I use Verizon FIOS and have a wifi network (created by Verizon actiontec router) called WIFIhome on the downstairs floor. I installed a MOCA based extender (actiontec WCB3000N) upstairs, and a new wifi network appeared automatically called WIFIhome-5G. I am using Verizon equipment instead of Apple because home is only wired for COAX and I couldn't find an easy way to have ethernet connections throughout without using MOCA system using Verizon equipment.

Iphone Wifi Issue - When I'm upstairs, my iPhone/iPad remain on WIFIhome unless I manually force them to change to WIFIhome-5G (which has stronger signal upstairs). I thought WCB device would 'extend' my network and my devices would seamlessly transition between the downstairs/upstairs routers based on best connection. Since the WCB device appears to have created a new SSID, the devices appear to think of these as different networks.

Is that correct? How can I make sure my devices see these as the SAME network, and move back and forth to the fastest access point automatically?

Thanks for the help.

^^^ Exact same situation ! Any help is greatly appreciated in advance 🙂

1864 Wood and plaster home, COAX in basement, 1st floor family room & 2nd floor bedrooms, CAT 6 in basement and 1st floor family room.

- FIOS Actiontec MI424WR Rev I in basement near ONT - SSID is WiFiHome, Channel 1
- Actiontec WCB3000N on 2nd floor (MoCa/COAX connection to MI424WR), Channel (automatic) , placed under my bed 😝

My houshold has 7 Mac/Apple devices and none automatically "switch" to the SSID WiFiHome_5Ghz nor the WiFiHome_2.4Ghz one either and stubburnly stay latched onto the main WiFiHome until signal is lost and disconnects or if I manually look up the and select the "extended" networks (all have same and keychained passwords). Spped/bandwith is not a real issue since I have FIOS Quantum 150Mbps and speedtesting shows at least 10Mbps at 1 bar/arc but it is nontheless an annoying.

Devices: MacBook Air, 2 x MacBook Pro, 2 x iPhone 5s & 2 x iPhone 4s

Would going into the Actiontec WCB3000N and renaming the 2 automatically created SSIDs to be the same as the main one do the trick?

Thank you for any help.

GmanA

This has been my problem for years as well. I thought there was no solution.
When I bought a Android phone I found out there are a million solutions. I downloaded a program called Wi-Fly by Brightify.
You choose the two routers in your house and when one signal gets weak it jumps onto the other router. You can even choose the sensitivity.
So annoying that I have not been able to find a solution for my Apple products like my sons Ipad etc.
Come on Apple. Lift your game...
There are so many helpful people that simply say it is not possible and no device does this.
Android and the Jailbreak community constantly prove them wrong...

A Little off topic from the original post, but the real solution here is to not use and extender or purchased "repeater" at all. You can hardware an old router to the existing main router and reconfigure it to be the exact same network. Then there is no "ext" and your device will automatically pick up the strongest signal. It takes a little work but is well worth it. I did this a couple of years ago and it works beautifully.

I was thinking that. Hmm, interesting. I wonder whats different in the setup. Do you know what hardware infrastructure is installed?

Thanks Lawrence.

Offhand, I don't know the hardware, but it is used in the museum world pretty widely. I'll check next time I get a chance.

Thanks Lawrence, very kind.